Alexander johnson



A. JOH.NSON.. Hanging Wall Paper.

. K0 Model.)

No. 237,749. Patented Feb. 15,1881.

INVENTUK.

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UN-rrED STATES ALEXANDER JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HANGING WALL-PAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 237,749, dated February 15, 1881.

Application filed December 2, 1880.

To all whom t't may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER JOHNSON, of New York city, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hanging Wall-Papers, of which the following is a specification.

The figurein the drawing is a perspective diagrammatic view, illustrating the mode of joining several lengths of wall-paper together previous to affixing the same to the wall according to my system.

My invention relates to those wall-papers made to imitate leather and of a very thick and highly-embossed quality, and its object is to enable such papers to be hung on or affixed to the wall in a more convenient and efficient manner, and which will also enable them to present a better appearance and avoid injury to the embossing.

Heretofore such papers have been applied to the wall in the same manner as common papersthat is, their entire reverse side being pasted to the wall with the meeting edges ofeach length overlapping the other. This requires that the paper be greatly-moistened throughout and pressed over its entire embossed front to insure adhesion to the wall, which of course tends to materially injure or flatten the embossing and give the papera bad appearance, which is increased by the overlapping edges, which become too conspicuous and unsightly in such thick papers.

Now, according to my improved system of hanging, I first cut the papers into suitable lengths, as usual, to properly occupy or fit the required wall'space but I trim or cut the ed ges on a sharp and true line, and I cause the edges to abut directly together, so that the embossed surfaces of both lie on the same level, as shown in the drawing, the pattern on each length of course being properly matched. I then secure each length together by pasting strips of thin tough paper or muslin over the joint, on the reverse side of the paper, as shown at b in the drawing, thus securing all the lengths together ready to be applied to the wall. Now, before applying the paper to the wall, the reverse side is moistened slightly, but uniformly, by a soft sponge or brush, and the wall is brushed over with extra strong paste around the margins only for the breadth of, say, two or three inches. The paper is now (No model.)

applied to the wall and pressed around the margins so as to adhere to the pasted margins of the wall, and the borders or moldings may then be tacked over these margins, so as to impart the necessary finish and at the same time serve to secure the paper to the wall.

For a border I prefer to use ornamental embossed strips of leather, which aretacked both along the cornice as well as along the side and bottom margins of the paper, so as to give a more ornamental effect, or the effect of a frame, as well as to better affix the paper to the wall.

The purpose of slightly moistening the paper over the reverse side is to cause the same to slightly swell before it is applied to the wall, and the slight subsequent contraction due to its drying renders, the paper taut and-smooth over its whole surface.

It may now be observed that by this system of joining and hanging the paper each length closely abuts edge to edge with the others, thus rendering the embossed surface of the whole, when on the wall, even and continuous, and causing the joint to be invisible, except by close examination, thus givinga much better appearance, as well as rendering the attachment more secure, as there exists no protruding or overlapping edge liable to become frayed or raised up by contact with objects rubbing against the wall, as would exist in the common mode of hanging. Furthermore, as the paper is cemented to the wall at its margins only, it hence requires that in applying the paper to the wall the external pressure be applied to the embossed surface around its margins only. Therefore the embossed surface is in no way flattened or injured, except in a slight degree at the extreme margins, Where it is practically invisible, or is covered by the borders tacked over these margins, as before described. Hence by this system not only is much more perfect and artistic work produced, but labor is also saved, as this system of hanging is more convenient and takes less time than the old system, thus presentinga material improvement over the same.

The marginal pasting of the paper to the wall may sometimes beomitted where the overlaid borderings are sufficiently broad to hold the paper but generally the pasting is preferable along with the tacked borders.

What I claim is- 1. The mode herein described of hanging wall-papers, viz: first cutting the paper into suitable lengths and trimming the edges thereof to sharply correspond, then meeting or abutting these edges directly together and joining the same by strips ofthin paper or cloth pasted on the back of the Wall-paper over the said meeting edges, and finally affixing the whole to the wall, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The improved method herein described of joining and hanging Wall-papers, consisting in cutting the same into suitable lengths, making the edges correspond, and joining them on the I same level by strips of paper or cloth pasted over said edges, on the back of thepaper, then 

